Abraxalito, they are the bottleneck, no doubt. Plus, once produced by the loudspeaker, I don't think it is possible to unscramble the omelet and pin point where the distortion originated from (not completely true, some distortions are typically electronic, other speaker related, and these of course can be identified).
Therefore, I understand all those who argue that aiming for the lowest possible distortion in the electronics section is futile. It may well be. On the other hand, it cannot hurt either. In addition, as I mentioned before, low HD is just a yardstick for overall amplifier health. If a piece of electronics can faithfully reproduce the original signal under a variety of conditions, it is a healthy piece of kit and it will show it in the numbers.
Therefore, I understand all those who argue that aiming for the lowest possible distortion in the electronics section is futile. It may well be. On the other hand, it cannot hurt either. In addition, as I mentioned before, low HD is just a yardstick for overall amplifier health. If a piece of electronics can faithfully reproduce the original signal under a variety of conditions, it is a healthy piece of kit and it will show it in the numbers.
If you're getting bored, you need better music. I can strongly recommend John Statz's latest album, "Tulsa."
I think to get back to the thread, in my opinion there is no DAC specification (I mean digital to analog converter not a box of goodies) that would make a significant difference in sound.
If your THD+N is -130 dB below the output this is a factor of 10 billion (British Standard). That is like hearing an ant tap dancing in slippers from a mile away.
😱
Only for THD though IME. In terms of listening satisfaction, electronics are generally the bottleneck.
hi
DAC chips do sound quite different by itself, DAC implementations (box/soundcards) do sound very different
to get you a better idea, if those high end boxes mentioned eariler sounded like CDs, the SB L!ve just sounded like FM radio (ofcourse you need an adequate amp/spk setup to reveal the difference)
Not in my experience. Many different amps with different technologies and different measurements, all sound alike above a certain quality level. Loudspeakers, huge differences, even between top notch speakers.
Of course, individual experiences may vary.
Yes, and even more interesting individuals' experiences over time vary. For example if you'd asked me 20 years ago (when I was working in the industry) I'd have given the answer you just did, that I barely heard any difference between sources and amps, but speakers sure made a huge difference.
same experience here!
real loudspeakers, despite the oldest/lowest tech stuff, imo the most important link and basically, impossible to sound close to the theoretically ideal one
how many dac have you compared?
Dac's are very much the most important link after the speakers. its no marketing hype that DAC's are so discussed, its because with a good system, the characteristic of dacs become more and more important and evident.
the implementation of a chip is what makes or break a DAC. the implementation will determine why dac chips do sound different.
this
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The problem is the dac is an analog device.
While things are digital,everything is fine.
When we translate to analog things can go wrong.
There are a million things which are fine as long as we stay digital.
Well of course you can use a digital input class D amplifier if you want, but isn't PWM an analogue system in and of itself? The amplifier chip does D/A conversion internationally via standard order modulators to derive the PWM stream prior to driving the class D output stage.
Still it is as direct as one can get in absolute terms.
Still it is as direct as one can get in absolute terms.
most importantly, he dont ask the good person.
many diy'ers dont really buy and try many DAC's.
he better ask that question at head fi where he'll find many users having went thru many many hi-end dacs.
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I have many DACs but more or less commercial ones. The size in general are small to very very small smd types, so little chance for modification or tweaking.
I don't know why, Wolffson DACs always sounded nice to my ears. But why is it not popular with DIY? Is it because they don't sell it to DIY?
I don't think it is a case of not selling to DIY.... a few years back you could not get an ESS DAC because Samsung bought the whole production.😡 Maybe Wolfson is swallowed by some big manufacturers lets guess iSomthing and they are obligated only to sell to iSomething while the supply agreement is in place. Happens, money rules.
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The perfect answer to DIY DAC comparisons would be to design a mother board with perfect power supply, data receiver, output amps and peripherals on it, then have to facility to plug in different DAC chips on daughter boards to compare and then settle on the one you like best.
This would be the only way to tell them appart if there were audible differences because DAC specifications are really academic.
This would be the only way to tell them appart if there were audible differences because DAC specifications are really academic.
Dunno about that. The fact that everyone automatically includes one of these galvanic isolators on their board and surrounds it with a ludicrous moat does not prove that any noise is reduced. I suspect in some cases the noise is increased or only the noise spectrum is affected. These devices isolate electric potentials and are not meant as noise reducers.